The Proper Foundation
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. - Psalm 127:1a
Imagine spending years building an expensive home with the finest materials and craftsmanship. It is a work of art, and the project is almost complete. As the day arrives to move in, a building inspector arrives and hands you a notice that condemns your beautiful home because it doesn't meet code.
Many Christian workplace believers who invest years in their businesses will one day stand before the Lord and realize they were building the house, not the Lord. God is very picky about motives behind the actions. Before we act, we must ask why? Why are we doing what we are doing? Has God called us to this task? Or is the real motive purely financial? Or control. Or prestige.
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).
David learned this principle by the end of his life. Throughout his life he had learned that God always tested him to find out what was in his heart, and what his motive was in his actions. David instructed his son to "...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts" (1 Chron. 28:9a).
Prepared for such a time as this! :)
Had a great time at chalet with the rest this year! :) It's been such a long time since we had such an event. It was really refreshing for us though we hardly slept throughout. :P
We had fun fellowshipping at the kopitiam, sun burn at the beach and finally, had fun pouring our creative jucies during the skit! :) However, i think the thing i enjoyed most during the chalet is BBQ!!! :) Xiangyou's aunt actually prepared a lot of nice food for us and it was really a spread!! Thanks aunty! :) Had fun cooking and eating. Think next time we buy more satay coz it seems like it's the most fast going and popular food item. hehe :) (Coz it goes very fast... before u know it, it's all gone! hehe)
Alot of friends came for the chalet and it's really exciting to get to know each of them a bit more! :) Most exciting is that Shalynn is joining us for cg and services! :) Doors of opportunities are now open! Grab hold of the Kiros time amen?! :)
Think all the guys are tired after the chalet coz tiredness is clearly written on everyone's faces. However, we all made it a point to praise and worship God during service with all our strength (that's remaining)!
Arise and build is coming up soon and all of us are busy thinking and praying for an amount that God is challenging us to give. Think it's gonna be a phenomenal experience after 3 years of break as we are all gonna experience miracles and breakthroughs as we sow generously into the house of God! :)
Understanding who we are in the spiritual realm
Today we had guitar ministry after guitar ministry. Bro James was sharing about the heart of the ministry during the prayer meeting and how the burden of the ministry and growth was upon the leadership within the ministry. He was sharing about knowing who we are in the spiritual realm when we're teaching the students. He was sharing with us that it is one thing about being a teacher in the natural realm but in the spiritual realm, there is an anointing that was given by God over our lives as guitar teachers.
Understanding this principle really blew my mind as i began to understand that this anointing makes us different from teachers in the world. This anointing makes our words (eventhough they are simple words) to be so much more powerful and effective than teaching basing on our head knowledge and flesh. The latter is being carnal minded. Prayer then becomes a very important thing in our lives! For example going into a class with a low spirit, there's so little to give to the students and eventually end up having a class that is not so effective compared to that which is taught by a teacher whose spirit is up and high!
Jesus was saying in Luke 16:12 " And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own". Bro James was also sharing about how guitar ministry came about which started with just a spark of initiative that is submitted to God's call. Alot of thoughts came to my mind as he shared and i began to see so many areas in my life that i need to be more faithful in..
We ended with a great time of worship and prayer and the presence of God ministered to everyone in the room. It was a great time spent in the room. Thank God i stayed through. What was received was so valuable and it became a boost in my spirit man and my very life! Looking forward to sow into the next harvest with this new vision and mindset! :)
New BlogWeb Design
Hi guys,
In order to make posting a fun thing to do, let's contribute to post pictures, or include some audio and html to make this blogweb interesting and fun ya? I've just changed the blogweb design and would encourage everyone to contribute ya?
There are some changes that i need expertise in:
1) Uploading of pictures (if u have photos, do upload them to put colours to our
BlogWeb)
2) Uploading of interesting sountrack or audio that everyone can enjoy from it
3) html designs (need expertise in html) to re-organise the format and layout of the
current one. Do come out with contempory and innovative ways of designing ya?
Those who are applicable to the above or have anything else to contribute, do contact me anytime to make this happen for everyone! :)
Cheers! :)
Art of Teaching
After a long day in school, got a few sms along the way saying that a few of my students can't make it for guitar class tonight. Was kinda disappointed to see only a few ppl turn up. But despite the fact, i still did my best to teach even though there are only 3 students.
Didn't feel that i taught very well today. For some reason, was kinda nervous. Maybe because got new student (Xiaojia). :) Must learn to overcome. There are so many things i have to learn to overcome. So much to do yet so little time. Really pray that God will expand my capacity and territory.
Also got news from my friend saying that her grandma passed away yesterday.. Was sharing with Raymond that there had been many funerals around me recently. This shows me that life is so fragile. They may be gone anytime! So no time to lose! Gotta win all of my friends and loved ones to Christ before it's too late!
Opening Our Spiritual Eyes
by Os Hillman
And Elisha prayed, ''O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.'' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ~ 2 Kings 6:17
Elisha was counseling the nation of Israel against the impending attack of the king of Aram. The Lord supernaturally gave Elisha the plans that the king was implementing, and in turn, Elisha warned Israel of each intended attack. The king could not understand why his plans were continually foiled. It seemed there was a secret informer in his midst. He was furious when he was told it was the God of Israel who was to blame for this inside information. The king decided the only way to resolve the situation was to get rid of the problem - kill Elisha.
The king's forces arrived and surrounded Elisha and his servant. Elisha's servant became upset and fearful when Elisha was not upset. Elisha immediately prayed that his servant's eyes might be opened to see that there was no need to be afraid, because the angels were protecting them.
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike these people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked (2 Kings 6:17-18).
Who is the Elisha in your life? Do you have a mentor friend who can see the activity of God in your life when you cannot see it? We all need to have somebody we can trust to help us see the activity of God. It is often difficult for us to see what God is really doing because we are so consumed by the circumstances of the moment. Ask God today to help open your spiritual eyes that you might see Him in your circumstances.
Treasures in darkness
by Os Hillman
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. ~ Isaiah 45:3
"I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me, and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area." Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. That day when I confessed those words, God led me to this passage of Scripture.
What we perceive as dark periods in our lives are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often-accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God's viewpoint: "...so that you may know that I am the Lord...who summons you by name."
You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at God's mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God's faithfulness in those areas. We will never know how personal He is, or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are "summoned by name." Every hair of our head is numbered. He knows every activity we are involved in. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to us.
Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name.
